28 years ago The first Tetris was created2 photos

July 30, 1985, exactly 28 years ago the first Tetris was created.

One of the most popular games in history was created by the little-known Russian programmer Alexey Pajitnov. He worked at the Computing Center at the USSR Academy of Sciences and studied the problems of artificial intelligence, computer graphics, and computer voice recognition.

The basis of the idea of ​​& laquo; Tetris & raquo; The American puzzle "Pentomino Puzzle" was invented by mathematician Solomon Golomb. It consisted of five squares (pentomino & ndash; from the Greek. "Penta" & ndash; five) and set the task to correctly place the geometric shapes in the box.

While planning to create a computer version of the "Pentomino", Pajitnov successfully completed the idea: the figures were to be assembled in real time, and they had to turn over according to the idea.

However, the capabilities of the then mainframe computers turned out to be too weak for the implementation of a new idea, since for a computer "la Pentamino" lacked resources. Then Pajitnov reduced the number of blocks that made up the falling figures to four. Thus was born the "la tetramino" (from the Greek. "Tetra" - four). Short name & laquo; Tetris & raquo; stuck a little later.

Within two months, the first graphical color version of Tetris was created, which had control and small amenities, like a high score table.

Having copied the toy to floppy disks, Alexey and his comrades distributed it in their own research institutes. Soon the game became famous in the USSR. & laquo; Tetris & raquo; awarded several awards to the American Software Development Association: as the best consumer software, the best original design and the best entertainment program.

For 20 years of existence, all kinds of & laquo; Tetris & raquo; (including official statistics, electronic devices and illegal sales) have spread around the world in a fantastic circulation, which is estimated at a quarter of a billion copies. This popularity could not reach any electronic game.